Paper cutting artist in Ueno

Back on February 16th, I attended a book club gathering for the first time in Tokyo.  The ladies were discussing "The Devil in the White City".  It is a book I read for my Michigan Book Buddy Club the previous year.  It was nice that I was familiar with the book.

 Following the meeting, many of us had reservations in Ueno to see Imamaru Hayashiya, a paper cutting artist.  He was amazing!  We enjoyed watching his demonstration in an intimate setting.  He presented me with a piece he cut-a nightingale sitting on a plum tree branch.  Many beautiful designs were given to the audience.  Later in the program, he motioned me to come up to the stage.  I was asked what I enjoyed doing as a hobby.  I replied, "gardening".  As you can see by the photo he captured me enjoying my hobby.  Note how he even has me wearing glasses!

We had a chance to practice our own paper cutting skills.  We enjoyed a lovely traditional tea ceremony with sweets.

It was a very fun afternoon.  You can see and read more about Imamaru Hayashiya at the address below.

Book Club

Posing

Japanese sweets

www.tedxtokyo.com/tedxtokyo-2010/program/hayashiya-imamaru/

Night time cherry blossom viewing in Meguro

lanterns reflected on the river

Our Korean main dish

Bill and I were told that it was a "must" to see the cherry blossoms at night.  So on Monday, April 9th, accompanied by Bill's co-workers, Takako and Satomi, we went once again to Meguro.  We walked along the same river we were at the previous Saturday.  But what an amazing sight!  There were lit lanterns strung between the cherry trees.  These lanterns reflected on the river's surface.  It was almost magical.  We purchased beer from a street vender and "oohed and aahed" while we strolled, enjoying the evening.  After our viewing, we found a Korean restaurant and enjoyed a meal.

Cherry blossom viewing at Kitanomaru Park

Yes, another day of viewing the cherry blossoms.  We were told by a co-worker of Bill's that this park was an excellent viewing spot.  The park borders the Imperial Palace property.  So on a beautiful sunny Sunday (April 8th), we joined thousands and thousands of our closest friends at the park!  :)  The display did not disappoint us.  Please enjoy our many photos of this gorgeous setting.

Cherry blossom viewing in Meguro

After our visit to Shinjuku Garden in the morning on April 7th, we headed south to Meguro.  After boarding the train, we realized it was going north!  Oops!  A quick departure at the next stop and a re-boarding on the correct train is all it took to be back on target.  Yes, we do get lost even using a Metro map.  Once in Meguro, we descended a very narrow and steep street toward the river.  It would be a great sledding hill! :)  On the way we stopped at the Daien-ji Buddhist temple.  It is unique in that over 200 small Buddha statues serve as a background to the larger Buddha. We eventually made it to the river to view the cherry blossoms.  We also stopped at the nearby Meguro Gajoen Hotel.  It has a beautiful interior and man-made waterfall and garden.  The hotel is a very popular wedding venue.  It is famous for its all marble bathroom.  The line was so long to get in the bathroom, so unfortunately we didn't see it.  Also in this area is the building that Amway occupied before they built in Shibuya.  The photos are of the temple, interior display at the hotel, and the river.

Cherry blossom viewing at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom last weekend.  I'm skipping over a few previous ideas I wanted to share with you.  Don't fret, I'll get to them later!  Oh, by the way, our friends, Pat and Gary from Ohio, spent 10 days with us.  We had a great time with them.  Watch for our adventures in future blogs.

On Saturday, April 7, Bill and I went to the Shinjuku Garden.  We enjoyed the beauty of the cherry blossoms along with thousands of other people.  We enjoyed a tea ceremony at the tea house, Rakuu-Tei, which is located on the grounds of the garden.  Unfortunately, the tea ceremony was "westernized", but still lovely.

We had an Hanami at the garden.  Hanami literally means "flower viewing".  An hanami generally consists of an outdoor picnic, enjoying good food and drink.  And of course, the cherry blossoms.  Note:  good drink could not be enjoyed, the garden would not allow alcohol.  We spread our blanket and enjoyed the surroundings.  The most common blanket used is a blue tarp.

Enjoy the garden photos, the tea house with our Japanese sweets and tea, our beautiful server, and our hanami meal!

Retry on the 2 videos from Foundation Day at Meiji Shrine